Maccabi Tel Aviv Advances to Winner Cup Final After Beating Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a spot in the Winner Cup final by defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 88-71 in a basketball "clasico" on Sunday. They will face Hapoel Tel Aviv in the championship game.

Despite the victory, Maccabi started the game slowly, similar to their recent EuroLeague matches, struggling with low shooting percentages and falling behind early. Hapoel Jerusalem also had offensive difficulties in the first half, leading to a low-scoring first two quarters for both teams. However, Maccabi's defense improved significantly, limiting Jerusalem's scoring and enabling their comeback.

Coach Oded Katash acknowledged the team's initial struggles, stating, "They made it very difficult for us at the start, it took us time to break through and find the right way." He reflected on recent EuroLeague losses where the team couldn't recover mentally, attributing some of the difficulty to the absence of fans. Katash expressed hope that the win would boost the team's confidence for their upcoming EuroLeague game.

Maccabi displayed better team effort and energy compared to recent games, overcoming a double-digit deficit in the first half. The coaching staff emphasized the importance of team play before the game, which they believe impacted all aspects of their performance. The team noted that capitalizing on a key momentum shift was crucial for the win, and they aim to build on this progress.

Key players who stepped up in the second half included Iffe Lundberg, who scored crucial points and made four three-pointers, and Oshee Brissett, who also hit four three-pointers and finished with 17 points. Both players reportedly gained renewed confidence. Jalen Hurd contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Roman Sorkin scored 16 points. The club highlighted that improved scoring and confidence led to better team play and the comeback victory.

Guard Keaton Wallace, who had faced criticism, received encouragement from fans after his crucial plays in the second quarter, including two three-pointers and a field goal, which helped Maccabi close the gap. The team also improved its ball security, recording only nine turnovers after struggling with high numbers in previous games.

Looking ahead, Maccabi will play their next EuroLeague game on Thursday in Belgrade against Milan, aiming for their first EuroLeague win. The team is also working to get center Daniel Theis back on the court as soon as possible, managing his ankle injury. Players Bonzie Colson and Armando Bacot are expected to participate in the upcoming game.